Do You Have What It Takes To Be The Next Archery Master?

No one thinks archery is a hard sport until they experience the long hours of scattering four dozen of arrows all over the target. Making a perfect practice is its main goal. It sounds tough. But ever since the world began, many people from all walks of life, the royal families, young ones, adults and even disabled persons are so ardent to learn this thing. It has been considered a fine skill sport requiring a good focus that it makes your mind go blank for a moment. You can never understand the sheer exhilaration they get when shooting arrows unless you try it for yourself. Anyone can take it as a hobby or take it into serious competition. Either way, it helps relieve stress and let you enjoy the outdoors. The moment of concentration when aiming for target takes away one’s own worries and problems as any novice would say.

Though it is a stationary sport, it can still be physically demanding. The process of training commands lots of patience and determination. But this is one of the most rewarding activities that’s worth trying.

But just like any sport, you need to adhere to certain demands and requirements. You cannot be a good archer if you do not have the proper equipment. If you want to use it for competitions and not just for recreational shooting, then investing in the best equipment makes sense. You can start scouting for your perfect archery equipment at takeabowandarrow.com. Normally, recurve bows are great for beginners, especially for those planning to enter the spport of archery. When choosing the best recurve bow, there will be measurements involved. If you read on articles that offer proper guide to the best recurve bows, you will find out that factors like your age, height and draw length will determine what bow size you have to choose. If the bow fails to match with your personal measurement, the bow will entirely affect your comfort and accuracy. In getting the proper draw weight and draw length, all you need is a measuring tape and someone to help you out.

For a budding archer, it can be a little overwhelming when choosing the best recurve bow from the many archery equipment available. It is necessary to ask help from someone with expertise and experience. It can be from your coach or from the salesperson in the shop. They can give an idea of which set of competition recurve bow will best suit you.

Thankfully, there are a lot of available resources now that provide us with a wide selection of recurve bows. It is relative that you may shed a significant amount of money when investing the best recurve bow. But you need to make sure that your bow is something that will last for long.

A right recurve bow is certainly necessary. However, no matter how well we are equipped with even the finest equipment yet we do not have a correct frame of mind, we still have a lesser chance to carry on. It takes a mind and a tool to successfully break into the fine sport of archery.

For those who are just about to enter the world of archery, let me share with you that there are two kinds of archery – indoor and outdoor.

While it is obvious how and where one occurs from the other, what needs to be learned is WHY there is indoor and outdoor archery, especially since archery is originally an outside activity. What made people bring it indoors and still love it?

Well, the most practical reason behind the existence of indoor archery is the changing seasons. During autumn and winter, archery became to difficult to hold outdoors, hence, indoor archery was conceptualized.

While this was started decades ago, it has, to this day, been essential that an indoor archery “arena” or gym is built sturdily and is conducive for the different archery tournaments that will be held inside it.

During indoor archery, there are two main games – the three spot target and the five spot target.

The three spot target is a multicolored target face with three different individual targets while the five spot target is made out of blue and white targets.

A lot of archers enjoy indoor archery as much as they enjoy outdoor archery. In fact, a lot o the youth are into this sport and those who are only beginning to enter the sport prefer to start with the indoor games rather than immediately trying out outdoor archery.

Meanwhile, outdoor archery, involves a game called “roving course,” also sometimes called the “walking course.” The targets are usually wooded and are placed 10 to 80 yards away from the archer.

For the grown-up kind of archery, there is also game hunting, where they actually target games in the wild using a bow and arrow.

Indeed archery has evolved into a sport that has not only attracted people who love the outdoors, but also those who prefer the indoors. It has become a sport for ages, creating a connection across generations.

According to studies, the cases of bear attacks on humans is on the rise. In fact, Dr. Stephen Herrero, University of Calgary graduate Andrew Higgins, and colleagues from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Brigham Young University carefully reviewed all recorded deaths inflicted by non-captive black bears in North America for the past 110 years. They reported that 86 percent of these attacks occurred after 1960.

As any avid archer knows that being in the outdoors is a necessary part of the sport, and this is also an aspect that makes it so much fun. However, nature is found in the highly unpredictable outdoors, and with it comes a plethora of potential unexpected circumstances that can arise and throw what should have been a pleasant afternoon into utter chaos. There are some helpful tips to keep in mind to help prevent yourself from becoming a grim statistic.

Bear Spray

One of the best and easiest tools you can use the next time you decide to go out is bear spray. With a quick squirt, you can debilitate the animal long enough to provide you the time to flee for safety. Best of all, bear spray doesn’t kill the bear, so you can rest assured you won’t be disrupting nature in your plight to stay alive. With the ability to shop online, it’s never been easier to find just the product that works for you. You can review the complete buyers guide here where you can quickly access products, reviews and everything else you need to make an informed purchasing decision.

Analyze Your Surroundings

Just as a crime scene investigator can generate valuable leads simply by looking at the surroundings, there are clues for the observant archer that indicates a bear may be in the vicinity. The next time you’re looking for a spot to practice, check for:

Close presence of caves or hollowed trees that are often used as dens

Scavengers such as vultures and raccoons as this indicates a bear has recently made a kill

Bear tracks

The Smithsonian offers more valuable advice on how to identify the territory of a bear that you won’t want to miss here.

Keep It Clean

Treat your setup area as if it were your home. Bears and other wildlife are attracted to the smell of food, and, for them, your garbage qualifies. Sloppy archers not only pose more significant challenges for the environment, but they are also far more likely to come face-to-face with a bear and other dangerous animals. Some rules of thumb to follow include:

Always pick up all trash, cooking supplies, and other material.

Clean thoroughly following meals.

Place sealed food overnight somewhere high from the ground such as from a tree branch.

Staying Ahead of the Game

Let’s face it. Bears are much larger, faster, and stronger than humans. When left unprepared, you’re no match for one of these majestic yet dangerous creatures, and the only feasible option you have is to play dead. However, by staying ahead of the game and employing these tips into your archery preparation routine, you can give yourself a much better chance in the event nature decides to strike.

Being an archery instructor is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I started as a level 1 archery instructor and I teach the sport at summer cap. I have been an archery instructor for five years now and my life has never been this enjoyable. I can say that my work isn’t work at all. There is nothing I love the most than being able to impart my passion to others. I teach at the camp and I can say that the experience is totally different from that of teaching to experienced archers. During camp teaching, the ambiance is light and easy. It is purely learning while having fun. I love working with the kids. Most of the kids I teach at the camp aged 8 to 12 years old. We will target several fruits and eat them once the kids successfully hit the target. My students love it and I love it too. It’s fun and entertaining.

Another interesting thing about being an archery instructor is that I get to know different people. Being able to impart my knowledge and skills to potential archers is a rewarding feeling. In fact, in my five years as an archery instructor, I was able to send a few people to archery contest and some of them have even represented the country for international archery competition. Although I am not their coach anymore, I can still say that I am one of the reasons for that person’s foundation in archery. It is a rewarding and fulfilling feeling knowing that I was able to make a huge difference in other people’s lives.

Image Credit: openstreetmap.org

What’s great about teaching archery in the camp range is being influence the young ones to consider archery as their sport. Let’s admit it! Today, only a few people are interested in archery. Teaching it in the camp is one of the creative ways to introduce the sport at a young age. I am fond of archery since I was a kid because my parents introduced me to it at a young age. Now that I am an archery instructor, the feeling that it gives me is beyond compare.

However, little does anybody know, that aside from being an archery instructor I am also a plumber. I know, they are two contrasting professions but I earn a lot from becoming a part of an Oxford plumbing company. I became connected to the company when I was still younger and was trying to earn a little extra savings for myself and my needs. I applied as a part-timer and I was so grateful for the experience. Meeting new people and having the everyday fulfillment of helping others with their plumbing problems taught me a lot of things and made me feel good as a human being.

Also, in those years that I got to work with them, I was able to witness and prove to myself that Oxford plumbing professionals are definitely the best plumbers in the world.

As many of you already know, Archery is not the safest sport there is. It is a lot of things, and it provides a lot of positive skills, but it involves a bow and an arrow, plus a target. With that knowledge alone, people can figure out that there are a few things to avoid doing when engaging in Archery activities.

Here is a short list of the things that you should avoid while practicing/executing archery:

1. Never Fire a bow without an Arrow, this can go make the bow bounce the wrong way and end up harming you.

2. If you have no idea how to handle a bow just yet, then don’t do it. If you do know how to handle it, just make sure that you are holding the bow properly, keeping in mind that if you mishandle it, you can end up hitting yourself with the bowstring.

3. If you do not want to have a black eye or a bleeding nose, then make sure to always remember the proper way to handle a bow and arrow – keep your index finger behind the trigger so that you release the arrow the right way, and avoid accidental release.

4. If you can help it (financially), avoid buying your first bow and arrow from online shops and from secondhand shops like pawnshops. There are several reasons for this and the biggest reasons is probably that the firsts are always special, and this applies to your bows. It will be the bow you would be practicing on and it needs to be durable and within the right calibration. Also, your bow has to match your height and weight, and you can’t know that for certain if you only get your bow and arrow shipped.

In line with warning number 4, you should probably know by now that there are a lot of things to consider when purchasing your first ever bow and arrow. Like any other sport, there are costly ones and there are the reasonable ones. But the price is not what’s important. The main thing that you have to consider when buying your first ever bow is to make sure that it fits your physical attributes. This means that it should not be too heavy or too big for you. Anything excessively small or big for the person using the bow will be sure to get more harm than bulls-eyes.

There are shops that allow their buyers to try out the bow so do not hesitate to try out before buying. Comfort is key to knowing if the bow is the right one for you. Of course, you could always take an experienced archer with you so that they can help you land that perfect bow.

Archery is an outdoor activity that enhances mind and body. It does not only involve physical attributes but also the ability of the mind to concentrate, calculate, and analyse. Archery, just like any other sports, is better if introduced at a young age. Archery for children enhances overall development. Hence, if you are a parent, letting your child engage in archery is one of the best decisions you can ever make.

Archery enhances the person’s ability to socialize. It helps develop character, cooperation, develop a sense of responsibility, respect for others, time consciousness, and habit formation. Over time, a child may learn the habit of valuing things and the people around him. If his archery skills are good enough, then he will be competing with others. He will be able to learn the value of friendship and healthy competition. He will be able to meet new friends and be able to know how to mingle with others.

Archery does have emotional benefits too. Through outdoor sports like archery the child will be able to positively channel his emotions. Targeting and shooting an arrow is actually a good outlet for releasing feelings, be it a positive or a negative emotion. Through archery, your child will have a sense of belongingness because he will be associating with like-minded people.

My cousin, Raffy also loves archery. He has been holding bow and arrow since he was 9 years old. Over the years, he has mastered his craft and in fact, has competed in national and international games. He was won several awards and recognition.

Raffy is a classic example of how well an athlete can develop his skills if he or she is taught early. It is during a person’s childhood years when the brain is “thirsty” for knowledge and skill, so teaching children a sport like archery will be fairly easy.

Some parents may be hesitant because of the nature of archery, especially because of the fact that it involves a sharp object and the objective is to hit a target with the arrow. However, this can only be dangerous if you do not send your child to learn it from a proper archery training class. There are so many things that needs to be understood before a person is safely viable to use a bow and arrow.

There are a lot of growth opportunities for children in the field of archery so if your child shows interest, be sure to allow them to learn.

When it comes to hunting, people are divided into two camps: bow hunters and rifle hunters. Each side tends to stick to their guns (pun intended) about their chosen weapon. That said, is there actually a difference between the two, and is one better than the other?

When it comes to cost, mid-range bows and mid-range guns are roughly the same investment. You could expect to spend about $500-600 for a reliable, trusty weapon to hunt with. While lower-priced options are available, their accessories tend to be less trustworthy. On the other hand, the maintenance costs vary. Guns require constant ammunition purchases, while arrows can be retrieved and reused. Bows need to have their strings replaced after heavy wear, while guns can take abuse for years without worry.

However, choosing between a bow and a rifle can be very important depending on the type of quarry you’re after. Certain types of animals are illegal to hunt with a bow, or vice versa. Other animals are impractical to hunt with a certain type of weapon. Take a quail, for instance; while you could shoot it with an arrow, you would destroy most of the meat. A small-caliber bullet or shotgun is a better choice. Deer are the most common targets for hunters, but using a bow to take down a deer takes a massive amount of skill and experience; something new hunters don’t have.

Rifles have an advantage over bows. While bows may be silent, rifles have scopes. While bow scopes exist, they’re ineffective because of the adjustments you have to make in order to hit your target. Gun Gods reviews a number of rifle scopes that allow you to hit your prey from a distance, long before they can detect that you’re there.

Hunting regulations can be a headache to navigate through. Some areas will be designated as archery only, which means you can’t hunt with a rifle in the area. Season dates can also vary depending upon the type of weapon used.

Bows are quieter than a rifle. While a missed rifle shot will send any quarry around you running for cover, a missed bow shot will rarely attract attention. If you’re not sure of your accuracy, a bow may be a better choice. However, bows may not take down a creature in a single shot as quickly as a rifle would. Either way, you’ll need to track your quarry after you’ve wounded it.

Whether you want to hunt with a rifle or a bow is usually a personal choice. The only times it will be required is if the landowner or state regulations restrict hunting with a certain type of weapon. Before making your choice, take the time to evaluate the pros and cons of both types of weapons and pick the one that is best for you. After you’ve built up some experience hunting with one type of weapon, you can purchase the other and give it a try. It keeps the experience fresh.

This time, I’m going to go a little sidetracked and talk about an item that I can definitely not live without after a hard day of bow hunting with friends.

Whenever I go out camping with my bow hunting buddies, I always make it a point to bring some extra cans of beer. Yes, I drink most of the stuff but I also leave a few, just in case of emergencies.

When disaster strikes without warning, you are most likely forced to use every bit of information and equipment that you have with you. Therefore, I think you’d be surprised to know that even beer and most alcoholic beverages can be very helpful when it comes to survival in the wild.

Unknown to most people, beer has ingredients that have been proven beneficial for medical and practical purposes. I’ve seen action movies where the hero would suddenly grab a bottle of beer and pour the liquid in his wound. My father once explained that beer (or any type of alcoholic drink) kills germs and bacteria that may cause infection. Asides from sterilizing wounds, having an abundant supply of beer can help you when it comes to storing and preparing food.

Here are some of the best reasons why you’ll survive if you have an abundant supply of beer:

1. Beer cures stomach aches – Apparently, beer cures stomach aches caused by indigestion. Nothing cures stomach aches like a good bottle of Jack Daniels! Carbonation that happens during the brewing process helps in killing bacteria that causes stomach problems. The only downside to this is that beer is a no-no for people with ulcer problems. Also, children might not like the bitter taste too.

2. Beer removes stains – Surprisingly, this is true. I tried using beer to remove a really stubborn stain on one of my dresses. Sure enough, the stain was gone after a few minutes. A little club soda can also do the trick, but who has club soda when you’re lost in a sea of trees?

3. Beer can be used as meat tenderizer – When you’re lost in a forest, you are somehow expected to eat raw meat and grubs. But if in case you have a pack of Budweiser beer in your camping bag, then it’s time for some meat tenderizing marinade. The beer somehow softens the meat and it also adds a distinctive taste. Therefore, if you fancy eating deer (or even bears, if you’re completely lost and you somehow have the guts to fight against one!), then add flavor to that meat!

4. Beer as an Antiseptic – Just like in the movies, beer can be used as antiseptic. I’ve seen a lot of movies and television shows where guys spray a bottle of beer or wine on their wounds while yelling and cursing in pain. It’s a great way to treat your wound if you’re trying to survive during a forest hiking gone wrong.

5. Beer as an Anti-depressant – Of course, when things get really grim, the only thing you can do is grab a can of beer and drink your worries away. Hey, you’ve been doing it while trying to survive during the saddest times of your life, and then why not use it when you’re desperate to survive in the wilderness?

But then again, try not to drink too much. Or else, you’ll be too drunk to defend yourself against animal (and human) predators.

I think I’ve already stressed enough the pure destructive power of the bow and arrow. Since time immemorial, the bow and arrow have managed to claim more human lives in any battlefield across all four corners of the globe when compared against the chosen weapon of kings, which is the sword. And speaking of battles and kings, ancient tribes and civilizations from long ago have used the bow and arrow too, but there are only a few that really managed to use and develop this deadly projectile weapon to its full capacity.

For today, we are going to talk about the top three ancient civilizations who truly mastered the art of archery in the field of battle. While there were a lot of tribes back then that also contributed to the efficiency of archery in warfare, these three civilizations were notable because history always favors those who won spectacular battles.

The Egyptians – The Egyptians started using the bow and arrow as tools of hunting and for war around 5,000 years ago. Archery was already an established custom among the Pharaohs and there are records of the old kings of Egypt engaging in elaborate hunting parties. The Egyptians were also among the first to start teaching archery to common soldiers. Thus, they were the among the first to wield battalions of efficient archers during every major battle.

The Chinese – When it comes to archery, the old Chinese emperors were really big fans. In ancient Chinese culture and philosophy, archery became one of the Six Noble Arts of the Zhou Dynasty. Thus, only the Chinese emperors can practice archery and the common folk were forbidden from learning how to use a bow. Anyone with enough skill are either drafted into the army or were executed if they disobeyed! Even the great Confucius was also an excellent archer, along with many other great warriors and scholars.

The Chinese also perfected another form of the bow and arrow, which is the crossbow. The Chu-Ko-Noh became an indispensable weapon for hundreds of years both in the East and the West. Travelers coming from Europe would visit or make contact with prominent Chinese generals and they shared the construction plans for the crossbow. The crossbow would later change Medieval warfare, as European countries during the Dark Ages would use and train crossbow-wielding soldiers to fight for them.

The British – The Battle of Agincourt in 1415 was a clear testament of the raw destructive power of the bow and arrow. The British King, Henry V, would field the English longbow for the first time against thousands of heavy French cavalry in this battle. It was said that the English soldiers were already sick and hungry after marching for days and the only reason why they managed to survive and win against the larger French army is because of the powerful arrows that came from the English longbows.

Even to this day, the principles behind the English longbow are still used by professional archers from all over the world.